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These lucky nine get to pitch to Richard Branson

Nine entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas directly to Richard Branson this month and three will walk away with a prize package worth £1 million.

The lucky nine, who are all from the U.K., were voted by the public into the penultimate round of the Virgin Media Business "Pitch to Rich" contest.

"We set out to find great business ideas with the potential to disrupt a market," said Branson in a statement. "The people that make a difference are the ones that have the courage to overcome obstacles in order to turn an idea into a successful business."

The finalists, culled from 2,500 entrants, will present to Branson and a panel of judgesin London on June 26.

The contest, which is in its third year, divided the nine finalists into three groups: "Startup," for new business with huge potential; "New Things," for disruptive ideas that aren't yet established businesses; and "Grow," for existing businesses primed for rapid expansion.

The judges will pick a winner from each of the three categories.

The three winners will receive marketing, PR and business development from Virgin Media Business for a year, and some mentoring opportunities from Branson -- a prize package Virgin values at £1 million total.